Be sure you understand the rules

God doesn't play by our rules.  We spend a great deal of time trying to wrap our heads around that reality.  We talk about how God's actions 'aren't fair' (see the Prodigal Son, Luke 15).  We side with the wrong character in a parable.  We know that, under no circumstances, would we pick up a wounded stranger and leave him and our credit card at the local Motel 6 until we could return. (Good Samaritan, Luke 10).  We are certain that the guy who buried his one talent in the ground and then returned it to the Master wasn't particularly bright financially, but we don't see this as a failure of any sort.

But God doesn't play by our rules.

Our decisions are driven by the Profit Motive; it certainly drives our economy.  So we hire workers at a rate where they can be paid, and we can have something left over.  A little something for the owner of the property.  A little something to reward their risk.  We make choices so we gain an advantage and protect ourselves.  So, a  little something......or sometimes a great big something......to maintain the distinction between those who own the land and those who just work the land.  When corporations are deciding 'right' policy, they are driven by the profit motive, and individuals aren't far behind.

However Jesus asks, "What does it profit a man if he were to gain his life but lose his soul?"  Apparently, Jesus has a different kind of profit motive in mind.

So when Jesus tells this parable about a landowner who hires day laborers in the marketplace (Matthew 20) we are a little stymied at his actions.  The landowner hires some workers at 6 am and agrees to pay them the agreed upon daily wage.  The 'daily wage' was to be enough to feed a family for a day.  There wasn't any wiggle room in it for the worker.  But the workers were pleased because now they knew that their family would eat today when they got home.

Wonderful.  The landowner goes back to the marketplace again at noon, and 3 pm and again at 5, just before everyone was ready to call it a day.  Again and again, the landowner says, "Come to my vineyard.  Come work in the land I own.  I will pay you what is right."  So, no matter what 'right' might mean, these late in the day workers knew they would get something and so a little food was possible.  What a wonderful, generous landowner!

Except when it was time to get paid, everyone, EVERYONE, got the same daily wage....the 12 hour workers and the 1 hour workers......and guess who wasn't happy about that arrangement?  It just wasn't fair!

Because, you see, you get paid for the work you do.  The more work, the more pay.  Stronger folk get paid more than weak folk.  Young folk get paid more than old folk.  That's the way it works, we cry.

But not in God's world.  Not in God's vineyard.  Not according to God's rules.

God's 'kingdom' is not our kingdom with the rough, uncomfortable edges worn down.  It is a different place.  Different rules.  Different values.  Different decisions.  Either you want to be a part of the Divine Plan or you don't.  Either you want life or you don't.

For what does it profit a man if he gains his life and loses his soul?  That's the God question.